Blue Mountain Expansion

Blue Mountain Brewery in Nelson County has announced major expansion plans. The brewery plans to open two, yes two, new production breweries. The folks at Nelson County Life bring us the news:

Blue Mountain Brewery has selected the Colleen Business Park in Nelson County as the home for its two new production brewery projects. During the year-long site selection process, the Colleen location emerged as the best fit for the projects, allowing Blue Mountain to expand its brewery operations in Nelson County. Blue Mountain originally located in Nelson after water studies and drilling test wells. Brewer Taylor Smack notes, “The water in this region is an integral part of the success of our brewery process. I had talked with Central Virginia Electric Cooperative [the Colleen Business Park land owner] about locating a brewery here as far back as 2004. The site never left my mind as very ideal, and we’re thrilled to finally be making a production brewery in Colleen a reality.”

One of the projects, known as Blue Mountain Barrel House and Organic Brewery will focus on 10 Blue Mountain beers that will be kegged or bottled in 750ml corked bottles. These specialty beers will be USDA certified organic. Production will start in January 2012 and eventually reach capacity at 5,000 barrels a year. The second brewery will be a 40-60,000 square feet production facility. Capacity is expected to reach 50,000 barrels annually.

This is exciting news from a great Virginia brewery. This expansion will allow Blue Mountain to reach markets outside of Virginia, introducing even more fans to Virginia craft beer excellence.

See Blue Mountain Brewery Announces Major Expansion Here In Nelson County! for more details.

Blue & Gray Does IPA

One beer style that I've long thought was missing from the lineup at Blue & Gray Brewery was India Pale Ale. Recently I heard from brewer Madison that he was working on an IPA and I've been waiting to see, and taste, what he would come up with. This week my wait was over. The brewery announced that the test batch of their first IPA was on tap at Lee's Retreat, and I was recently able stop by the brewpub for a pint.

The as yet unnamed beer pours dark amber with a moderate beige, and persistent, head. The aroma is citrus with a hint of fruit. The initial taste is citrusy hops with a touch of bitterness. Some caramel notes come through at the end. There's a pleasing bitterness in the finish. This is a well-balanced beer with enough bite to satisfy this hop fan. Centennial, Cascade, and Chinook hops are used in making this beer. I enjoyed it very much. My only regret was that I only had time for one glass during this visit.

You too can try out this new beer from Blue & Gray at the brewpub while the test batch lasts. I don't know how long that will be, so you probably don't want to delay. As for me, I intend to get back very soon to enjoy more.

Blue & Gray will be holding a "Name That Beer" contest to come up with a name for their new beer. It will be interesting to see what names the brewery's fans come up with. I predict this will be a very popular addition to the Blue & Gray lineup.

Update, today: Just heard from a friend on Facebook that the IPA is gone. I understand the next batch won't be brewed until May 31. Sad face.

Hop Stringin’ at Blue Mountain

Last July, Blue Mountain Brewery invited fans in for a day of hop picking. Now, the Nelson County brewery is tempting folks in for another work day.

From Nelson County Life Magazine:

Bring a pair of good yard scissors and help Blue Mountain Brewery string, trim and train their Cascade and Centennial hops! On Tuesday, April 26th · 3:00pm – 6:00pm Give them an hour of good work and they’ll hook you up with a “hop-hand” sandwich–carnivore or vegetarian style–and a side. They’ll be wrapping up the stringin’ by 6PM, so last check in time is precisely 5PM for this event. Co-owner and brewmaster Taylor Smack laughingly has a suggestion. “Basically, what we’re saying is fake a stomach ache at work sometime between 2:30 and 4:30 and get on out here for some good, beery, country fun!” Brewers Chad, Mitch, Matt and Taylor and Stan “the hop man” Driver will be out in the field working and chatting it up with all comers. Hope to see you!

(Seriously, don’t forget your scissors or a good box-knife or the like.)

Sounds a bit like a Tom Sawyer tale, but it will be good time for sure. But you better hurry, it's today!

Easter Sunday & Shooting Practice

After Mass on Easter morning I decided to take a quick trip to the range for some pistol shooting practice. (There are just so many snarky remarks I could make here about "clingers.") I've been wanting to get in some focused practice, basically for trigger control and watching the sights, and shooting steel plates at a distance seemed a fun way to do that. Being a breatiful Spring day, and Easter Sunday, I figured the outdoor range would be well-attended, but surprisingly I had the place to myself.

I set up my 10" steel plates and moved to the 15 yard line. My plan was this; if I hit the first shot from the draw, I'd reward myself wih a swing to the second plate and then shoot it. If that was a hit, swing back to the first plate. Or alternately, shoot a follow up shot on the first plate if the first shot was a hit. If I missed on the draw shot, I'd reholster and start again. So here goes: Draw. Shoot. Hit. Transition. Shoot. Hit. Too easy.

I needed to make it a little harder. So, I moved back to the 25 yard line. I still managed a high percentage of hits.  At the Black Creek Steel Match just a few weeks ago I was having trouble hitting even 24" plates at 25 yards. Must be the pressure of competition. There are days I shoot well, and days I do, um, otherwise. This day it was the former.

I enjoy practicing with the steel. I instantly know that I called the shot correctly, and there's no walking back and forth to paste the target. Sure, the "A zone" isn't the same size or shape at the standard USPSA target, but shooting steel is an easy, not to mention fun, way to practice basic skills. Maybe I need to get one of these steel A zone targets from this page.

Now, by posting this I've probably jinxed myself for the next time I have to shoot for a score. But, it was certainly a fun afternoon. Later that day as I was grilling a leg of lamb for Easter dinner, I still had a smile on my face thinking about the afternoon's fun.

"He is not here"

With those words, we learn that the promises of Our Lord have been fulfilled. The empty tomb reminds us that death and sin have been conquered. Whenever I think about the Resurrection, I often wonder what those who persecuted or doubted Him must have thought on Easter morning.

Today, all of Christendom celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead. As we go through life we face many trials and tribulations. But we must always remember that "the worse thing that could happen" has already happened. The biggest battle man can face, has already been fought, and won, for us. Jesus conquered death so that we could have eternal life. We rejoice in that knowledge at Easter.

I hope you had a productive and spiritually fulfilling Lent, and I wish everyone a joyous and blessed Easter season. He is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. --Matthew 29:5-6

Mass inside the tomb of Jesus.
Photo by C. Turley

Fasting With the Belgians

Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence. For Catholics, this is a simple way of denying ourselves in order to focus on something bigger than the immediate earthly desire. It helps us to slow down and acknowledge our weaknesses. But that doesn't mean we're gloomy. In fact, it should be just the opposite as we are reminded of the eternal salvation won for us today.

After The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at our church Friday afternoon, and a simple dinner, Colleen and I decided to relax with a nice beer and think about the events of these Holy Days. Alas, I hadn't planned ahead. I've been working through the odds and ends of beers left in the basement, and the stash is random and assorted. I spied a bottle from 2009 of Orval, and a lone bottle of Duvel. That'll do! It wasn't until I grabbed a couple of Chimay glasses that I realized just what an eclectic assemblage this was. And tasty too!

“It is accomplished”

Were greater words ever spoken? With these words, God, humbled as man, breathed his last. All this was done for our sake, and ours alone. What love He showed in His sacrifice. A sacrifice that no man could make. It is for this reason we call today Good Friday. By this action He redeemed mankind. Think about it; God sacrificed Himself, in reparation for sins man perpetrated against God Himself. Thinking about it takes my breath away. On this day, the greatest act of forgiveness, of love, in all of history, took place.

This year, Holy Week seems extra close and personal for my family. Just a few months ago we were in the Holy Land. We walked were Our Lord walked, where he lived, where he died. Listening to the readings at Mass this Holy Week I am struck by the memories of being in the very places these events took place, of walking the same streets, of touching the ground upon which He died, praying in the tomb in which He was placed.

Today we lit the lamp in our home that hangs in front of a crucifix that contains relics from the Holy Land. I walk by that crucifix many times each day. But today, it seems somehow different.

And saying this, he gave up the ghost. Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.  And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. --Luke 23:46-48

Weekly (Free) Beer Tastings

A quick public service note: The folks at Virginia Wine Experience let us know that they were starting up free beer tastings every Thursday. I've noted this downtown Fredericksburg store in the past. Edwin tries to bring in some beers that aren't readily available in the area. Now that the store will be holding regular tastings every Thursday, there's yet another reason to stop by.